Photo: Michael Frank, Woodway

Burning excess calories while generating electricity sounds too good to be true, but that's what Woodway's latest fitness machine is all about. The EcoMill is a manually-powered treadmill that uses zero electricity. The self-sustained machine works by converting your own energy into precious watts, thereby saving a few watts from the grid. The EcoMill's drive system allows you to stay fit without increasing your carbon footprint. I tried it at a recent fitness trade show and found myself powering a generator, which converted the energy into electricity to power the display and the elevation system. Extra energy is stored in the treadmill's battery when it isn't in use.

Clunky? No! It looks sleek, curvy and Jetson-like, but I also expected a non-electric treadmill to feel rough and, well, manual, under my sneakers, but not one bit. In fact, Woodway's patented design incorporates shock-absorbing rubberized slats and smooth-rolling ball bearings to create a less-stressful workout for the lower-body. (These old tired hips thank you, Woodway engineers!)

Loud? No! I thought a manually-powered exercise machine would make crazy-loud noises, but again, the result is an amazingly-quiet treadmill scientifically proven to provide the ideal "softness" to eliminate the harmful shock to connective tissue and muscles. When I questioned Eric Weber, Woodway's sales and marketing director, he explained that the sophisticated curved design is the culmination of years of non-motorized development, but the key ingredient is the near-frictionless drive system, which allows the running belt to move freely.

Too busy to shower after your workout? Why not take a bath while you're on the treadmill? Okay, okay ... I jest. But the Hydro Physio does bear a striking resemblance to a treadmill at the bottom of a bathtub.

Though it may look odd, the concept is a good one. Water creates a natural resistance, which can improve the quality of your workout. In addition, when you work out in water, your buoyancy makes the movement less stressful on joints.

The Hydro Physio is currently used primarily for rehabilitation and athletes. But if you want to get the benefit of a water workout, consider water aerobics. You can also just ramp up your traditional treadmill workout.

[via Ruby Room]

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Last Sunday, I went over to my parents' house during the Super Bowl. I watched for a while, but my interest waned. (Sorry, I'm just not a football fan.) My son and dad kept their eyes glued on the screen, but my mom and I disappeared upstairs. While my mom worked on a craft, I hopped on her treadmill for a while.

I maintained good form. But, I was chatting with my mother the whole time, so it wasn't exactly a strenuous workout. Next time, I'm going to put a little more gusto into it. You can ramp up your workout with these treadmill techniques:

• Let go. When you've got your balance, let go of the rails. Let your arms swing naturally if you're walking and pump arms forward and back while running.
• Keep eyes level. Resist the urge to stare up at the gym's ceiling-hung TV. Keep your head and eyes level.
• Add an incline. A slight incline -- even as small as one percent -- can really increase the intensity.
• Try intervals. Vary speed and incline for a more advanced workout.

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My mother has gone for a long walk almost every day for the past 23 years (she lost over 50 pounds back in 1985 and has kept it off ever since). She says that she feels cheated and like her day is off-kilter when she doesn't go for her walk. Quite a few Christmases ago, my siblings and I chipped in to buy her a treadmill, thinking she'd be grateful for it on icy, snowy or rainy days. My mom reluctantly uses the treadmill on days of inclement weather, but in all honesty, she detests the thing. She finds it boring.

My guess is a lot of people find treadmills boring. They're one of those machines that have stuck around simply because they get the job done. But your workout shouldn't be boring. While you should certainly escape to the outdoors whenever weather allows, when you're stuck inside you can follow these tips to make your treadmill walk or run more enjoyable:

• Break it up. Plan on working out in segments -- warm up, run and cool down. Viewing your workout in segments of time rather than one, long chunk makes it more bearable.
• Focus on form. Don't slouch or rest on the handlebars. When you know you're getting the most out of your workout, it's more satisfying.
• Try hills and intervals. Change the speed or incline every few minutes to vary the routine.
• Workout with a friend. If you're at the gym, chat with a friend while walking on the treadmills. Remember to be respectful, though -- others at the gym don't want to hear your conversation.
• Listen to tunes. Load up your iPod with great workout tunes.

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Martha recently posted about how exercise can help stroke patients recover. A new virtual reality program that is undergoing clinical trials in the UK and in Canada helps the recovery process a little more.

A researcher at Portsmouth University in the UK created a treadmill that's linked to a virtual reality system. The system helps people recovering from strokes, traumatic falls, and those living with osteoarthritis to build up their endurance, increase their range of motion, and improve their gate.

The system displays scenes -- cityscapes, forest trails, mountains, etc. As the patient is walking on the treadmill, the scenery changes. The system gives them the motivation to walk -- and it also encourages them to virtually pick up objects which aids in balance. In addition, the motion of the scenery is adjusted so the patients walk faster and more smoothly, almost without realizing it.

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If you're going to take the trouble and time to go to the gym to work out, you want to make the best of your time, right? Many people don't, however, and a few quick cheats can easily add up to a low-intensity workout that wastes your time and leaves that fat you're trying to blast stubbornly in place.

So if you want to make the most of your next cardio workout, check out this article that defines five common mistakes and easy ways to fix them. For instance, you treadmill walkers out there...did you know that walking on a treadmill with no incline burns 10% fewer calories than walking outside on level ground? That's because the treadmill helps to propel you forward. Instead, make sure you increase the incline, and better yet, vary it during your workout. Also, do you hang on to the sides or console of your elliptical or treadmill? That no-no will cost you calories as well. Keep your weight evenly balanced on your feet so that your leg muscles don't get a chance to share the load with the machine.

Checking your form and making sure you're using cardio equipment properly will help you spend your time at the gym doing what you came to do -- building endurance, burning fat, and creating a stronger, healthier, and more fit physique.

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My marathon coach who also happens to be a close pal of mine has taught me that training goes beyond lacing your sneakers and hitting the road. This is why he has given me homework assignments like reading this article in this runner's magazine or logging every little detail about my run. I'm waiting for a pop-quiz somewhere between now and the race.

Anyhow, as I was clicking around Runner's World I noticed their daily training tip section. Today's involved avoiding injuries on treadmills -- where they suggest ensuring that your belt has at least eight square feet of surface area. Wouldn't it seem that all treadmills would be created equal then? Personally, training on treadmills are (yawn) boring to me and it's way too controlled. I'm less likely to stop on the machine, whereas if I'm running outdoors I'm getting the full effect of my body's limits and where I might want to stop.

In short I thought this was a good tip to point out and it looks like you can get several others on a daily basis by subscribing to Runner's World tips by RSS. That is, if you aren't a subscriber already.

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